Memorize “Atenerse” conjugations in the Imperfect Tense effortlessly. Our unique loop-based audio helps you absorb verb forms naturally—just like native speakers. Tap to play and start memorizing 10x faster now!

Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop while reviewing the conjugation chart to naturally absorb the correct forms. Try it now!

Conjugation Chart of “Atenerse” (to abide by) in the Imperfect Tense

Why Use Loop-Based Learning

• 🧠 Activates natural language processing in the brain
• 🔄 Makes conjugations feel automatic
• 📝 Reduces mental effort compared to rote memorization
• 💡 Builds fluency through repetition

Unlike traditional methods that rely on memorizing rules and grammar drills, our approach mimics how native speakers naturally acquire language—by hearing patterns repeatedly in context. This activates your brain’s phonological loop, making verb forms feel familiar and automatic.

To learn more about the science behind this technique, read our detailed article: The Neuroscience of Language Learning: How Listening on a Loop Strengthens Your Fluency

Understanding the Imperfect Tense of “Atenerse”

The Imperfect Tense of atenerse is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, for example, Yo me atenía a las reglas de la casa. (I adhered to the house rules.)

This verb follows the standard conjugation pattern for regular verbs ending in -er in the Imperfect Tense, with the ending -ía added to the stem.

How to Use Atenerse in the Imperfect Tense

The imperfect tense of atenerse is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past.

To abide by or follow rules/guidelines: For example, Me atenía a las reglas del juego. (I abided by the rules of the game.)

To stick to or limit oneself to something: For example, Nos ateníamos a lo que decía el manual. (We stuck to what the manual said.)

To rely on or base oneself on something: For example, Me atenía a los hechos para tomar una decisión. (I relied on the facts to make a decision.)

Colloquially, to deal with the consequences: For example, Ahora te atenías a lo que hiciste. (Now you have to deal with what you did.)

Real Life Examples of Atenerse in the Imperfect Tense

Yo me atenía a las reglas del juego para evitar problemas. (I adhered to the rules of the game to avoid problems.)

Ella se atenía a una dieta estricta para mantenerse en forma. (She stuck to a strict diet to stay in shape.)

Nosotros nos ateníamos a los consejos del médico para recuperarnos pronto. (We followed the doctor’s advice to recover quickly.)

Ellos se atenían al plan original, aunque surgieron algunos contratiempos. (They stuck to the original plan, even though some setbacks arose.)

Tú te atenías a tus principios, sin importar lo que dijeran los demás. (You adhered to your principles, regardless of what others said.)

Él se atenía a las instrucciones al pie de la letra para no cometer errores. (He followed the instructions to the letter to avoid making mistakes.)

Ustedes se atenían a un presupuesto ajustado para ahorrar dinero. (You stuck to a tight budget to save money.)

Yo me atenía a la verdad, aunque fuera incómoda para algunos. (I stuck to the truth, even if it was uncomfortable for some.)

Ellas se atenían a un estricto código de conducta en el trabajo. (They adhered to a strict code of conduct at work.)

Tú te atenías a las tradiciones familiares durante las fiestas. (You followed family traditions during the holidays.)

Él se atenía a un horario estricto para mantener el equilibrio entre el trabajo y la vida personal. (He stuck to a strict schedule to maintain a work-life balance.)

Nosotros nos ateníamos a las recomendaciones del entrenador para mejorar nuestro rendimiento. (We followed the coach’s recommendations to improve our performance.)

Ustedes se atenían a las normas de seguridad en el sitio de construcción. (You adhered to the safety regulations at the construction site.)

Ellos se atenían a un estilo de vida saludable, a pesar de las tentaciones. (They stuck to a healthy lifestyle, despite the temptations.)

Yo me atenía a mi intuición cuando tomaba decisiones importantes. (I followed my intuition when making important decisions.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Atenerse (to abide by) in the Imperfect Tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Imperfect tense is also known as the Past Imperfect, Descriptive Past, Past Progressive, or Imperfect Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Imperfecto, Copretérito, Imperfecto de Indicativo, or Pasado Descriptivo in Spanish.